Natural and organic foods are frequently utilized to create an interesting repertoire of meals that range from Polenta with Three Root Ragu to Caramelized Onion Soup in a Bread Bowl. They are eating well and have already experienced several occasions where they did not need to use all of the money budgeted. Due to the current state of the economy, $30 Bucks a Week, is choosing to continue with this challenge, so we will all have plenty of time to track their progress, cheer on their efforts, and find better ways to eat for less.

If you are interested in this topic and in reducing your grocery budget, you can follow the links below to other sites that have explored similar concepts. I understand that the needs of each family and household are different, so I have opted to explore a variety of options and food plans. Explore them all and be creative. If you do not find one that is appealing, apply the basic principals from each one until you discover what works best for you.

Hear4Home.net – In 1999, Hear4Home created a $30 Weekly Grocery List and Menu Ideas. Due to inflation and the rapidly rising cost of food, prices will no doubt be higher 10 years later. This is great article and may help feed a family on a shoestring budget, so I have chosen to include it.

If you are in need of additonal assistance you may want to seek out more information from the Angel Food Ministries. They offer reduced cost food boxes for $3o, containing items that would easily cost upwards of $42- $78 in a grocery store. According to their website, “There are no qualifications, minimums, income restrictions, or applications”. The list of items that are featuring in the box for February 2009, include 1.5 lbs. Sirloin Strip Steak, a 2 lbs. of chicken breasts, 1 lb. of carrots, and 1 lb. of rice. There are other items in the box as well as an alternative option for seniors or those who may not be able to cook or utilize a kitchen, so be sure to check them out if you need help or if you are interested in making a donation.

The Hillbilly House Wife offers monthly Angel Food Menus using the items included in the Angel Food Ministries, reduced cost food boxes. They have also created a $45 Dollar Menu, assuming that the money has to be utlized to fill a completly bare pantry as well as feed 4-6 people. Not only do they offer a menu, you will fing a grocery list, basic time management instructions, and great recipes including one for Snickerdoodles.

I invite you to to check out the $42 Emergency Menu that I created to feed 2 people for a week.

$42 Emergency Menu

This was inspired by the Food Stamp Challenge of feeding 2 people for only a $1 per meal. You can review the whole series and review our progress by following this link.

6 Responses to “Eating for $30 a Week or Less”

Have you heard of FoodSupport? They partner with local grocery chains to offer locals free grocery cards, you can read more about them at www (dot) FoodSupport (dot) org.

Admin Edit: I have modified the above URL in order to provide the information but remove out-links from my site. While many have found the above offers helpful, I am not a fan of having to complete several offers to receive a ‘Free Gift’. In many situations you can be potentially charged if you forget to cancel an offer or are unable to cancel due to questionable customer support.

Angel Food is a great enterprise, not only for their reduced-cost boxes but also for their other works in the community through Angel Food Ministries and through Emmanuel Church. Their headquarters is just up the road and my fiancee works security for them often. The Wingos are great people, with big hearts.

Just stopped by your site after finding your blueberry bran muffins on Tastespotting. You have a beautiful site, and wonderful articles. I look forward to stopping by more often!